Kathmandu, March 28:

The Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) may be mobilising troops during the seven-party alliance’s protest programmes next week, RNA spokesperson, Brigadier General Nepal Bhusan Chand, said at a press briefing here today. He said the Maoists’ Special Task Force has infiltrated the valley and the army has held some of them.

He said no civilian house was destroyed in yesterday’s aerial attacks in indhupalchwok. “The terrorists were on the school premises and started firing at our helicopter and then we opened fire in self-defence.” Showing a picture of the helicopter hit by the Maoists at Sindhupalchowk, he said the Maoists could have used a “long-range weapon like General Purpose Machine Gun .” He charged the Maoists with killing innocent people, political activists and abducting children.

Statistics of the RNA’s Directorate of Public Relations showed the Maoists have killed 327 NC and NC (D) cadres, 70 CPN-UML activists, 79 of the RPP, 4 of the NSP and three other political activists, he said. He said 93 children were killed by the Maoists from April 1998 till date. Maoists have to date killed 1,327 civilians, he said.

Citing the action taken against soldiers who had violated rights, he gave this break -up: 111 soldiers imprisoned; 57 discharged from service; 38 demoted ; 21 forfeited of grade; 24 denied promotion; 8 warned 6 made to pay compensation. “RNA has already investigated and responded to 74 per cent of the rights violation charges.”

The RNA has acquired legal permission to operate six radio stations aimed at countering rebel propaganda, he said .

“The RNA has minimum record of collateral damage of civilian casualties compared to any armed conflict zone around the world,” he said, adding that 8430 Maoists have been killed in operations since the RNA was mobilised in 2001 November and 635 soldiers have been killed since 27 August, 2003.